(This column originally appeared in The Daily Herald)
There’s been a lot of excitement around all the generative AI tools available, and according to a recent study, more than half of small businesses nationwide are using this new technology.
How? Turns out, in many different — and unexpected — ways.
For example, Anthony Cicero, a tattoo artist based in Schaumburg says he uses Microsoft Copilot a few times a month to help him create images when he feels like he’s “in a slump” or having artist’s block.
“It’s definitely helped me think outside the box and step out of my comfort zone,” he said. “AI has allowed me to explore different ideas for designing my tattoos in ways that may or may not have been done before. It’s reshaped my artwork in a positive way and has helped me achieve different ways of collaboration of more than one element.”
Cicero enjoys the benefits of his AI software and calls it a “blessing in disguise” but still remains concerned about its potential downsides.
“There’s a risk that it can ruin the creativity that humans possess by making us either lazy, incompetent or robot tracers,” he said. “Unfortunately, in the tattoo industry, AI allows nonartistic individuals a platform to skip what really makes art unique and original by not putting in the work.”
Rich Guclu Koseli, a video editor at Chicago Visual in Arlington Heights, uses AI, along with his other video production software, to help him to convert portrait-style pictures to landscape and to create scripts for video production, as well as converting old pictures to videos.
He said AI has not lessened the need for a good photographer or videographer, but the technology can provide tangible benefits.
“Nothing radically changed, but with AI my production work has become easier and less expensive,” he said. “With less people you can do more and faster.”
Internet Consulting, Inc., a North Barrington firm that provides digital marketing services primarily for industrial businesses also has leaned heavily into AI.
The firm’s president, Jordan Weiner, said he uses Claude AI on a daily basis to author advanced website and search engine optimization copy, and says what used to take extensive time and effort researching and authoring unique content now takes a fraction of the time. But he warns AI tools need to be properly trained.
“Training the AI means typing in the specific instructions needed to author the correct copy and typing instructions for the revisions to the copy when needed,” he said. “Each time you do this, it gets smarter, but it takes time and effort.”
Weiner said he also uses Claude to help him create more interesting content for his clients as well as assist with design and social media outreach by crafting compelling messages. According to him, the “superpower” of AI is taking something that would incur extensive time and effort to research and create and then author — and revise — a great blog post.
“Our productivity has skyrocketed,” he said. “Our clients are delighted with the amount and quality of content we now output versus prior to using AI.”
Nicole Cicak is a freelance illustrator in Barrington and, like many others, uses ChatGPT “several times a day” to help her manage her business more profitably.
“I use it to learn about new art supplies I want to try — especially when it comes to comparing products,” she said. “It’s been helpful in teaching me about the industry too. For instance, I recently finished writing and illustrating my first children’s book and I was able to quickly learn how the publishing process works.”
Cicak said her AI applications also save her money and have improved her ability to price her work better.
“I could go out and buy five different types of colored pencils, or I can tell AI what I’m looking for and it can tell me which brand is best,” she said. “I can plug my pricing into AI to make sure I’m in line with what other artists are charging. That way, I can more confidently defend my pricing to clients.”
AI also can be instrumental in helping to do back office work and reduce overhead costs.
Joe Engelking, a vice president at IT and cybersecurity consulting firm LME Services in Hoffman Estates, uses ChatGPT “several times a week” to help him craft client communications, policies, proposals, emails, and content for his website. He even uses the tool to help him perform research and create newsletters.
Like many others, Engelking has concerns about the downsides of AI, particularly the risks of using it to copy other people’s work and the potential to harm the output of creative content. But for him, the benefits still outweigh those risks, at least for the time being.
“It saves a lot of time on all of the processes above,” he said. “It saves me several hours a week in marketing and communication tasks.”
